Practical skills a puzzle for thousands in Wales survey fi nds
July), is a one day festival created for the older generation to share craft skills such as quilting, rag rugging, embroidery, wet felting, bread making, spinning and wood sculpting through a series of master classes. Taking place within the museum grounds, each Masterclass will be led by a talented original GrandMaker, aged 70 or over who will aim to inspire the younger generations.
The event is being supported by McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading
retirement
who will host a series of GrandFest related
celebrations
Thousands of people in Wales admit they have not got the know- how to perform a range of everyday practical tasks. A new study from older people’s charity, Royal Voluntary Service fi nds that practical skills like sewing on a button, baking bread or making a homemade meal are fl ummoxing those living in Wales. The fi ndings are released ahead of GrandFest Cymru, a one-day festival celebrating older people and their traditional craft skills, which takes place on Sunday . The research found 57 per cent of people in Wales are unable to knit, 30 per cent cannot sew and half (50 per cent) are not able to make bread without the aid of a machine. Nearly one in 10 (9 per cent) confess to being unable to cook a homemade meal.
These skills would likely have been second nature to many just a few decades ago, but the knowledge has faded over the years. More than half (58%) said they started to die out in or after the 1980s – which coincided with the rise of convenience culture. However the study shows there is
a desire to learn these traditional skills, with 65 per cent of those surveyed in Wales saying they would like to. Nearly half (49 per cent) also say they wish someone had taught them basic sewing skills, 55 per cent how to make a loaf of bread and 54 per cent how to cook . Nine in 10 said they think it’s vital that traditional skills are passed on in order to keep them alive. Fiona Longhurst, Director at Royal Voluntary Service said: “In today’s digital age less people know how to make bread, toys or clothes from scratch.
Those lessons weren’t
prioritised because the preference was for the ready-made. This research proves many of these skills are experiencing a renaissance and those who weren’t taught are now realising the benefi ts of equipping themselves with this knowledge. We
believe there are no better
teachers than the original makers; older people who have learnt and perfected their skills over a lifetime and that’s why we’re hosting GrandFest Cymru.”
GrandFest Cymru, taking place at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff on Sunday (9th
its
developments across the country. Clive
Fenton, Chief
housebuilder at
Executive
Offi cer for McCarthy & Stone said: “Older people have so many traditional skills to share. Skills that we as a nation, do not want to lose. And that’s what GrandFest Cymru is all about. It’s a free, fun event to celebrate talented older people and the heritage skills they can pass down through the generations. For those not able to make the event in Cardiff, we will be hosting a series of mini GrandFest celebrations at developments across the country.” Royal Voluntary Service exists to enrich the lives of older people and to ensure that they can continue to live life to the full. It does this by providing support and volunteering opportunities to older people in order to have a benefi cial impact on their health
and well-being.
The charity supports 100,000 older people each month with a range of services from Good Neighbours, Community Transport and Books on Wheels to more interactive services such as Knit and Natter and Sheds.
For further information about
GrandFest Cymru visit: www.
Grandfest.royalvoluntaryservice.
org.uk
WHAT’S ON in your
The Lazy Days Of Summer
July is the month of high summer and the garden comes alive during hot lazy afternoons to the sound of bees buzzing, gathering pollen from all the plants that you have lovingly nurtured and cared for that are now in full fl ower. It’s the time of year that gardens or patios become an extension of our day-to-day living space as we use them for entertaining and relaxing in. When it comes to patios, the real plus side to them is that they are ideal for masses of pots of colourful summer fl owers. These pots can then be extended through the Winter and into Spring with bulbs and Winter bedding to give your patio a longer lasting all-year-round appeal. Do remember though that the more containers you have, the more watering you will have to do during hot periods and the more dead heading and trimming you will need to do – but it’s defi nitely worth it.
A great idea for patios is a small water feature - and if you’re short on time or space then a container pond is quick and easy to make. It creates a different dimension to any small space, bringing the cool, calming presence of still water to the garden, attracting lots of wildlife and giving you the chance to grow a whole new range of interesting aquatic plants. Simply fi ll a watertight container with rainwater, plant a mix of aquatic and oxygenator plants such as water lilies and water soldiers. Once the pond is set up it’s easy to look after - the plants keep the water crystal clear so other than an annual clean up there is very little to do. With everything now in full bloom, it may now be possible to cut fl owers from your garden to have in the home and Dahlias are a popular choice for this. Their warm vibrant colours mean that they are often grown specifi cally as cut fl owers and they regularly feature at local horticultural society shows due to their summer fl owering.
Originally from
Mexico, Dahlias fl ower from July through to the fi rst frosts in the Autumn and range from dwarf bedding varieties to the popular giant fl ower heads that adorn gardens around the country. Dahlias thrive in any well drained soil and like plenty of sunlight but will need Winter protection in most parts of the UK.
local area?
The key to success for July is maintenance and good, effective watering. Your local garden centre can give you tips and advice on Summer tasks, but here are some ‘must do’ jobs for the garden this month … • Water tubs and plants, but be water-wise • Hoe any sun loving weeds
• Place conservatory plants outside now that it is warm
• Deadhead plants to ensure continuous fl owering • Keep ponds topped up and clear of algae • Order catalogues for next year’s spring-fl owering bulbs
• Give the lawn a quick-acting summer feed and mow regularly
• Give outside woodwork a lick of paint or preserver, while the weather is dry
• Music • Events • Movies • Theatre • Comedy •
events.cardiffandsouthwalesadvertiser.com
18 - Friday 7th July 2017 – Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser
National Garden Gift Vouchers can be bought and redeemed at over 2,000 outlets in the UK, with more than 90,000 garden plants and products on offer. Visit
www.thevouchergarden.co.uk to view details of all the outlets that sell and accept them or call 0870 2408237 for more information. You can also buy them online.
www.cardiffandsouthwalesadvertiser.com
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